Massive Avalanche Over The Lower Khumbu Icefall

Image: I took this photo moments after the avalanche began. The speed and ferocity of this avalanche was terrifying.

Keith Cowing: There was a massive avalanche off of the west shoulder of Mt. Everest this morning. Within a very short period of time the entire lower Khumbu Icefall was enveloped in pulverized ice and snow. I will have a longer report and a video of the avalanche online in a few hours.

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Image: The cloud of pulverized ice spreads out quickly over the lower Khumbu Icefall as seen from Everest Base Camp.

Image: (closeup) The cloud of pulverized ice spreads out quickly over the lower Khumbu Icefall as seen from Everest Base Camp.

\n\nImage: I took this photo moments after the avalanche began. The speed and ferocity of this avalanche was terrifying.\n\nKeith Cowing: There was a massive avalanche off of the west shoulder of Mt. Everest this morning. Within a very short period of time the entire lower Khumbu Icefall was enveloped in pulverized ice and snow. I will have a longer report and a video of the avalanche online in a few hours.\n\nMore photos and video ...